Tell Your Story
In 2003, National Public Radio embarked on an experiment, which they could never have imagined would blossom into a powerful tool for transformation, compassion, and change. They created a simple radio segment entitled "StoryCorps." In order to curate stories, they simply put a "storybooth" (much like a self-service picture booth) in Grand Central Terminal in New York City. They offered an open invitation for New Yorkers to sit in the booth, press the record button, look into the camera, and tell their story. Then they used portions of those stories to share with listeners on the radio.
Sometimes the stories were funny or inspirational.
Sometimes the stories were reflective or thought provoking.
Sometimes the stories were sad or tragic.
Regardless of the story, what NPR and the "StoryCorps" listeners discovered was that they were always profound because they revealed the wider story of humanity...the story of finding courage, resiliency, inspiration, forgiveness, redemption, grace, kindness, and love.
To their surprise, the radio segment became so popular that listeners living in places other than New York City began to contact NPR requesting a "storybooth" be placed in their city so they could tell their story. Eventually not only did the "storybooth" travel, but countless compilations of the stories were sold, podcasts were created and a not-for-profit organization which funds mission projects was founded.
The "StoryCorps" purpose statement is "our mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world."
I don't know about you, but that sounds like something the Church of Jesus Christ should be doing.
Yet, the sad thing is that, in my line of work, too often the church is the last place where people are willing to share their stories.
Why?
Because it takes bravery and vulnerability that, many are not willing to risk.
Too often, people are afraid to tell their stories because they fear the story will not be received and understood, but rather used against them in order to point out one's flaws, failings, or failure to look, sound, act, or even believe how others think they should.
Too often people are afraid to tell their stories because they have seen the judgment, scorn, hurt, and pain others have felt when they openly and honestly shared their stories.
What I find interesting is that the Church was born out of people telling their stories. Stories of how their encounters with the presence of God, with Jesus Christ, or the workings of the Holy Spirit had changed their lives for good. The Church was born out of ordinary people telling ordinary stories.
I imagine sometimes the stories were funny or inspirational.
Sometimes the stories were reflective or thought provoking.
Sometimes the stories were sad or tragic.
Always the stories were profound because they revealed the wider story of humanity's encounter with the divine and how they discovered finding courage, resiliency, inspiration, forgiveness, redemption, grace, kindness, and love.
Yes, I would imagine that sometimes those hearing the stories were critical, judgmental and disapproving when they did not fully understand that the story was NOT about the nature of the person, but rather about the nature of God.
Sometimes the stories were diminished, silenced, or quickly dismissed and erased in the minds and hearts of the hearers.
Yet those who had, as Jesus described it, "the ears to hear" were able to hear the extraordinary stories of how God can and will work in and through ordinary people just like them.
Those who had "ears to hear" understood all persons were made in the image of God and had access to the Creator.
Those who had "ears to hear" discovered that when they received and honored the stories of others and when they authentically shared their own stories, God-inspired connections between people could be formed.
These God inspired connections enabled communities to be formed and out of these connections, compassion, mercy and grace would reside. These connections were threaded together to create the beautiful, intricate, and diverse early Church.
I believe we need a story revolution in the Church.
I believe we need to pay attention to the ways we are or we are not fostering environments in which people feel safe to tell their stories.
I believe we need to teach one another how to receive and honor one another's stories and to see the beauty, complexity and diversity of God's creation in all persons and their stories.
I believe we need to help people have the courage and permission to share their stories.
I believe the Church needs (more than ever) to be brave enough to tell these stories, for these are the stories of not only people, but of Jesus.
Dear friends, there is a world that is "hungering and thirsting" to hear and witness Jesus and his love.
Let us start telling the story again.
Blessings, Rev. Shana Johnson, Conference Minister